Fantasy game and method of play

ABSTRACT

A game enables game players to predict an order in which sports players are selected during rounds of a sports draft event. The game players each provide a draft selection list that identifies individual sports players according to numerically ordered draft selection slots within one or more rounds of the draft event. In some embodiments one or more rounds of the draft event are subdivided into round groups of draft selection slots. Points are awarded the game players for correctly identifying a sports player with a particular draft selection slot. Points may also be awarded for correctly identifying a sports player within a particular round group. Points may be awarded for later round picks to break tie scores.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/970,411 entitled FANTASY GAME AND METHOD OF PLAY by Keir Kimble,filed on Sep. 6, 2007, which Provisional Patent Application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Fantasy sports games have become ubiquitous in today's society. Leaguesassociated with such fantasy games form in bars, the workplace,neighborhoods, and schools. Typically, the games center on aprofessional sport, such as football, and attain a good portion of theirpopularity from the established popularity of the sport on which thegame is based. Participants within individual leagues gather prior tothe opening of the sports season and draft teams of players. Theparticipants then manage their team, selecting which players to play andwhich ones to leave inactive. Points are generated based on eachplayer's performance.

Most professional sports attain a significant number of their playersthrough a draft. For example the National Football League holds itsdraft of NCAA football players each Spring. This particular draft hasbecome wildly popular over the year's. USA Today.com found that ESPN'scoverage of the 2006 draft attracted over thirty six million viewers. Tosome, the NFL draft has become as important as the Super Bowl.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary, and the foregoing Background, is not intendedto identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subjectmatter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A fantasy game and method of play are presented that are centered on asports draft. Game participants predict the selection order of availableplayers prior to the draft. Points are awarded according to thecorrectness of the game participant's predictions. Points may be awardedfor inexact predictions that fail within predetermined groupings withinrounds of the subject draft. Tie breaking selections may be incorporatedwithin the game. Playoffs may also be incorporated as game participantssuccessfully advance from intra-league play. Automated play is providedthat permits real-time reporting and play among the participants whilethe draft occurs.

These and other aspects of the present system and method will beapparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figuresherein. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the inventionshall be determined by the claims as issued and not by whether givensubject matter addresses any or all issues noted in the Background orincludes any features or aspects recited in this Summary.

DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention,including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to thefollowing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computing system adapted toimplement an embodiment of the draft selection game.

FIG. 2 depicts a system schematic of one contemplated embodiment of asystem for at least partially implementing the draft selection game.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a log-in page that may be usedwith an embodiment of the draft selection game.

FIG. 4A depicts a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a page that maybe used describing a manner of playing an embodiment of the draftselection game.

FIG. 4B depicts another portion of the exemplary embodiment of the pagedepicted in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A depicts an exemplary embodiment of a page that may be used formember registration in one embodiment of the sports draft game.

FIG. 5B depicts another portion of the exemplary embodiment of the pagedepicted in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C depicts another portion of the exemplary embodiment of the pagedepicted in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5D depicts another portion of the exemplary embodiment of the pagedepicted in. FIG. 5C.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portion of an official rulespage that may be used with an embodiment of the draft selection game.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a page that may be used byindividuals in creating, and/or joining leagues in various embodimentsof the draft selection game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show by way ofillustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments aredisclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the technology. However, embodiments may be implemented in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

With reference to FIG. 1 an example of a suitable computing systemenvironment is depleted in the form of a computing device 100 on whichthe present game may be implemented. The computing device 100 is onlyone example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of theinvention. Neither should the computing device 100 be interpreted ashaving any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combinationof components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment. Theinvention is operational with numerous other general purpose or specialpurpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples ofwell known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limitedto, personal computers, server computers, network PCs, minicomputers,mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like.

The invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotecomputer storage media including memory storage devices.

Referring again to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for implementing theinvention includes a computing device, such as computing device 100. Ina basic configuration, computing device 100 typically includes at leastone processing unit 102 and system memory 104. Depending on the exactconfiguration and type of computing device, system memory 104 may bevolatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, and thelike) or some combination of the two. System memory 104 typicallyincludes operating system 105, one or more application programs 106, andmay include program data 107. Examples of application programs 106include phone dialer programs, e-mail programs, scheduling programs, PIM(personal information management) programs, word processing programs,spreadsheet programs, Internet browser programs, and so forth. Thisbasic configuration is illustrated in FIG. 1 by those components withindashed line 108.

Computing device 100 may also have additional features or functionality.For example, computing device 100 may also include additional datastorage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example,magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage isillustrated in FIG. 1 by removable storage 109 and non-removable storage110. Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information, such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program, modules or other data. Systemmemory 104, removable storage 109 and non-removable storage 110 are allexamples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, butis not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tostore the desired information and which can be accessed by computingdevice 100. Any such computer storage media may be part of device 100.Computing device 100 may also have input device(s) 112 such as akeyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc.Output device(s) 114 such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may alsobe included. All these devices are known in the art and need not bediscussed at length here.

Computing device 100 also contains communication connection(s) 116 thatallow the device to communicate with other devices 118 (includingprinting devices, stand alone e-mail servers, facsimile devices, and thelike), such as over a network or a wireless mesh network. Communicationconnection(s) 116 is an example of communication media. Communicationmedia typically embodies computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signalsuch as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes anyinformation delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. The term computerreadable media as used herein includes both storage media andcommunication media.

The computing device 100 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remotecomputer 120. The remote computer 120 may be operated by a clientconsumer or third-party service provider (including one or moreproviders of various information databases, research tools, reportingservices, and the like); may take the form of a personal computer, aserver, a router, a network PC, PDA, a peer device, or other commonnetwork node; and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed above relative to the computing device 100. It is furthercontemplated, however, that the remote computer 120 could be provided inthe form of a telephone, which includes cellular telephones, landlinetelephones and the like. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 1include a local area network (LAN) 124 and a wide area network (WAN)126, but may also include other proprietary and non-proprietary networks128, such as wireless networks, a PSTN, the Internet, an intranet, andthe like. It will be appreciated, however, that the network connectionsshown are exemplary and other networking and communications means may beused. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a suitable system environment onwhich the present invention may be implemented.

With reference to FIG. 3 one or more application programs 106 may beprovided to present a log-in page to access a network accessibleembodiment of the draft selection game. In some embodiments, individualsmay select icons provided on the page to access other pages that couldinclude one of various rules pages and pages dedicated to individual orteam registration. In particular, and with reference to FIGS. 4A-B apage, may be presented to individuals accessing the draft selection gamethat describe one or more manners of playing various embodiments of thedraft selection game. Similarly, with reference to FIGS. 5A-D, one ormore application programs may be provided for presenting a variety ofmember registration screens to individuals who access the sports draftgame. Once registration is complete, one of more individuals may accessone of a variety of pages for creating, and/or joining leagues invarious embodiments of the draft selection game, such as depicted inFIG. 7.

In various embodiments, the game of the present invention will centeraround a draft, held in support of a sports league. In one particularexample, the game will center around the annual NFL draft of availableNCAA football players. Generally speaking, the object of the game willbe to determine which eligible players will be drafted, according to thedraft order.

In at least one embodiment, a pool of game participants will be dividedinto leagues. In one example, the leagues may each be comprised of onehundred game participants. In the instances where one or more leaguesmay not have at least one hundred game participants, two or more leaguesmay be combined so that the participating leagues are comprised of noless than one hundred game participants. It is contemplated that theleagues may either be public or private leagues, with public leagueshaving an open public enrollment and private leagues requiring aninvitation to join. Regardless of whether or not the league is public orprivate, game participants will each pay an entry fee, which willsupport monetary requirements of the game, including prizes, and thelike.

Typical sports league drafts are comprised of rounds. In the example ofthe NFL draft, and one contemplated embodiment of the present game, thefocus will be on the first two rounds. However, depending on thecircumstances of the game as it is played and the sport for which thedraft is being held, additional rounds may he added. Under the presentcomposition of the NFL, each round contains thirty-two draft selections.It will be preferred that each draft pick within the rounds be assigneda point value. Higher first round selections may be assigned lower pointvalues, for example, than late first round or second round selections.Game participants accumulate points based on players being selected inthe correctly predicted draft order. Game participants (or teams of gameparticipants) with the most points at the end of the last round of thegame may be awarded a grand prize for their respective league.Additional prizes, such as incremental amounts going to second place,third place, and the like are also contemplated.

In an optional second stage of the present game, the first place gameparticipants/teams from each league may be pooled into a playoff round.It is contemplated that the first round of play may be regional orlocal, whereas the second round of play may be national (or beyond) inscope. Prizes may be awarded for top point accumulations during thesecond round of play. In one embodiment, the second round of play mayproceed with points accumulated by each game participant/team during thefirst two rounds of the draft. In essence, this mode of play will merelycreate a summary style of play amongst the top finishers from theirrespective leagues. In another embodiment, another round, such as thethird round of the NFL draft, may be used in a similar manner as thefirst two rounds were used, in order to provide “new” competition amongthe participants.

Scoring may be adapted to fit specific needs or situations presented byeach game played. However, in at least one embodiment, each round of thedraft is divided into groups. For example, the first group of the firstround of the NFL draft may be comprised of the first three draftselections. Group two may be comprised of the next five draftselections. Groups three through six may be comprised of six draftselections. Points may be awarded according to a first point value foreach group within a round, for correctly identifying the exact draftselection in which a particular player was selected and a second lowerpoint value (such as half) for each group for selecting the correctgroup in which the player was selected but not the specific selectionnumber. For example, point allocations and their distribution may be asfollows in one preferred embodiment:

Round First Point Value Second Point Value 1 3 1.5 2 4 2 3 5 2.5 4 6 3 57 3.5 6 8 4

Accordingly, a game participant may predict John Jones to be the sixthselection in the first round of the draft (group two). If John Jones isselected as the sixth pick of the first round, the game participantmight receive four points. However, if John Jones was selected as theseventh player of the first round, the game participant might receivetwo points.

It is contemplated that ties may occur among the gameparticipants/teams. Preferably, tie breaker scenarios are put into placeprior to beginning the game. In one embodiment, “wild card” players arepreselected by a league official or commissioner from the available poolof prospective draftees. Game participants/teams who correctly selectthese wild card players will earn bonus points that may differentiateteams with otherwise identical point totals. Where additional tiebreaker efforts are needed, or in place of the previously identified tiebreaker method, compensatory draft picks may be used from subsequentrounds of the draft (such as the third round in the NFL draft example).Where no compensatory pick is accurately selected by a gameparticipant/team, game participants/teams who are closest in picking thecorrect draft order of the compensatory selection will receive the bonuspoints. Where a tie still exists after one or more tie breaker rounds,the grand prize may be split between the tied game participants/teams.

It is contemplated that one embodiment of the prize breakdown couldprovide for eighty percent of the money received in the form of entryfees from game participants/teams could be used to pay individual leagueprizes. Ten percent could be allocated to the national grand prize pooland the remaining ten percent to league administrative expenses. Wheretwenty dollars is used as the entry fee for leagues consisting of onehundred participants/teams, a total of two thousand dollars will becollected. Sixteen hundred dollars would be allocated to the leagueprizes, two hundred dollars would go to the national prize pool and twohundred dollars to the administrative expenses. In this manner, onethousand dollars could be provided as the first prize for each league,four hundred dollars for second place and two hundred for third place.National prize allocation is preferably assigned according topercentages, where seventy percent could go to the national champion,twenty percent to second place and ten percent to third place.

The game may be automated in various manners through the use ofcomputing device 100. First, system memory 104 may be provided tocontain contact information for potential game participants/teams.Invitations to participate may be transmitted by the computing device100 through various means, including e-mail over one of various networksthrough communications connection(s) 116. Invitations may also betransmitted through standard mail delivery, facsimile transmission, andthe like. System memory may also be provided to store and manage gameparticipant/team contact information as they register to play the game.

One or more application programs 106 may be provided to present andmanage at least partially secure registration and continued game play.Interaction between remote computers 120 operated by gameparticipants/teams may be through direct network connection, Internet,intranet, and the like. Where the Internet is used, a secure website maybe provided to permit game participants/teams to register, input theirdraft predictions, monitor results as the draft progresses and reviewresults of the game. Such interaction may, thus, be attained from nearlyany location.

At least one application program 106 will be associated with a draftclock to provide for automated enablement and termination of draftpredictions by game participants/teams. As the rounds progress, theapplication program 106 should permit predictions and changes theretountil a cut-off point right before actual draft selections are made.Another application program 106 should be provided to tally pointsattained by game participants/teams and rank them according to the pointtallies. In at least one preferred embodiment, the application programwill be provided to monitor multiple leagues throughout the subjectdraft, manage tie-breaking scenarios as described previously, andinitiate one or more playoff rounds among successful leagueparticipants/teams. Preferably, the application program 106 will provideaccess for game participants/teams to review their progress and thegame's final results real-time. Notices may also be transmitted to gameparticipants/teams according to the aforementioned means.

Although the wine racks have been described in language that is specificto certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to beunderstood that the invention defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or stepsdescribed. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as formsof implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of theinvention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafterappended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, suchas those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used inthe specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified inall instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not asan attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents tothe claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification orclaims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least beconstrued in light of the number of recited significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosedherein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claimsthat recite any and all subranges or any and all individual valuessubsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should beconsidered to include and provide support for claims that recite any andall subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive ofthe minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, allsubranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with amaximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and soforth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).Expressions such as “up,” “down”, “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,”“vertical,” “left,” “right,” and the like are used, where applicable, toprovide some clarity of description when dealing with relativerelationships. But, these terms are not intended to imply absoluterelationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respectto an object, an “upper” surface can become a “lower” surface simply byturning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

1. A method of playing a sports draft game, the method comprising;presenting to a plurality of individual game players a draft event for asport; the draft event including: (i) a pool of available sportsplayers; (ii) a plurality of sports teams; and (iii) at least a firstround and a second round that each include a plurality of numericallyordered draft selection slots whereby the plurality of sports teams taketurns in filling the draft selection slots by selecting individualsports players from the pool of available sports players; subdividing atleast the first round into a plurality of specific, numerically orderedround groups that each include a plurality of numerically ordered draftselection slots; providing a predetermined first point value and secondpoint value whereby the first point value is higher than the secondpoint value; receiving from each of the game players, prior to the draftevent, a draft selection list that identifies individual sports playersfrom the pool of available sports players for each of the numericallyordered draft selection slots within each of the round groups for thefirst round of the draft event; receiving an official draft selectionlist that lists selected sports players in a specific numericallyordered draft slot order according to the draft event; scoring the draftselection lists provided by the game players by: (i) awarding eachindividual game player a first point value for each occurrence in whichthe individual game player's draft, selection list correctly identifiesa selected sports player with a specific numerically ordered draft slotin which the selected sports player was selected during the draft event;and (ii) awarding each individual game player a second point value foreach occurrence in which the individual game player's draft selectionlist correctly identifies a selected sports player as being selectedwithin a specific numerically ordered round group slot in which theselected sports player was selected during the draft event; determininga total number of points awarded each of the individual game players anddetermining a game player who was awarded a highest total of points.